Vibrator



G. A, WILSON Oct. 22, 1935.

VIBRATOR Filed Oct. 21, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 22, 1935. w s 2,018,046

VIBRATOR Filed 001;. 21, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I a INVENTOR BYLL. .ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 22, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

This invention relates to portable vibratory devices and more particularly those adapted to be used for therapeutic and like effects.

One of the objects thereof is to provide a device of the above nature of simple and rugged construction and dependable action. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature, the action of which is efficient, and in which the available energy is economically used. Another object is to provide a device of the above nature adapted for practical and effective use on the back of the hand. Other objects are to provide a device of the above nature characterized by convenience in use, durability, ready control, cheapness and like desirable qualities. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the fea-' tures of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts all as will be illustratively described hereinafter, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings in which is shown one of various possible embodiments of this invention:-

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the device showing it mounted in position for use.

Figure 2 is a plan of an attaching member in extended form.

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of wiring connections.

Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the device mounted upon the hand in part broken away in order to show the construction more clearly.

Figure 5 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 55 of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a similar view along the line 6- of Figure 1.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to these drawings in detail there is shown at H! a rigid casing formed of an aluminum casing or the like having a body portion provided at its ends with ball bearings H and I2 for the corresponding ends of an armature shaft 13. Fixed upon this shaft is the armature l 4 provided with a commutator or similar device IE to constitute an electric motor, preferably of the universal type; that is, adapted for either alternating or direct current. This commutator is provided, as shown in Figure 6, with the brushes [6 mounted in the usual spring pressed manner in housings H in the casing l0, and the entire device is provided with flexible insulated leads l8 leading to any desired source of current.

Referring briefly to the illustrative wiring diagram shown in Figure 3, the source of current is indicated at [9 and one of the leads l8 passes through the hand switch 20, thence to the armature windings 2i and through the armature 22 to a rheostat 23 by which the rate of rotation of the armature is controlled. This rheostat and switch are mounted in an integral extension 24 (Figure 1) of the casing H! which reaches rearwardly from the body of the casing. The details of the rheostat 23 may be of any well-known form, but it is mounted in the casing and controlled by a rotary button 25 which is thus conveniently located and renders the regulation of action of the device a simple matter. Similarly, the switch 20, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, is controlled by an exterior finger piece 26 passing through the casing extension 24, and it may be noted that if desired the rheostat may be of such type as to interrupt the current when in one extreme position and thus do away with the necessity for the switch 20.

The field magnets 2| (Figure 1) are rigidly mounted within the casing and the lower open end of the casing is closed by a rigid plate 21 resting against abutments 28 and removably secured in place as by the screws 29.

Mounted upon the end of shaft I3 closely adjacent bearing 12 and enclosed by the casing is an eccentric device 30 which turns with the shaft and is shown in end elevation in Figure 5 of the drawings. This device preferably comprises an unbalanced portion 3! of substantial Weight and a plurality of vanes 32, the aggregate effect of which, when rotated, is to impart a powerful vibratory tendency to the adjacent end of the casing I8 which may be nicely controlled by regulation of the speed of drive of the armatureas hereinbefore set forth. The vanes 32, although not essential to the broader features of this invention, are preferably provided or given a slightly inclined form so as to tend to draw air through the motor casing and keep the same in cool condition. For this purpose inlet ports may be pro- .vided as at 33 (Figure 1) and outlet ports as at 34, and. the forward end of eccentric weight 3| .may be similarly inclined so as to aid in this air circulation action.

Upon the lower surface of the plate 21, and at a point substantially in line with the plane of rotation of the weight 3!, is mounted a member 35 to which is secured a pad 36 of sponge rubber or like material. Near the rear of the casl6 ing is mounted on the under surface of the plate a member 31 to which is secured a pad of sponge rubber or the like 38. The members 36 and 38 are adapted to fit snugly against the back of the fingers, diagrammatically indicated at 39, and at the hand, diagrammatically indicated at 40.

them firmly in engagement with the superposed pad. In a similar manner the casing is provided with openings 44 (Figure 6) for hooks 45 connecting a series of similar spring members 46 adapted to embrace the palm of the hand and hold it firmly against the pad member 38 over which the openings 35 are positioned. By means of these attachments the entire device is quickly andconveniently snapped over the hand and fingers and is snugly and firmly held against the parts. which it contacts, thus in effect making the fingers and hand a part of the mechanism.

The rigid rotation of the weight 3! causes a substantial vibration of the adjacent parts which is transm' ted through the short end of the shaft, bearing l2, and the rigid casing and bottom portion up to the pad 38, and it will be noted that this pad is substantially in alignment with the plane of vibration of the weight, thus giving a maximum effect upon the fingers. The violence of this vibration thus imparted to the fingers may be readily controlled as above explained.

It is to be particularly noted thatthe vibratory effect is efiiciently utilized with a corresponding economy of current and an adaptability for powerful action with a motor which is of the light weight most important in a relation such as that in which the motor is employed. The eccentric weight, moreover, is not called upon to vibrate the entire body of the motor for, due to its location and relation to the remaining parts, the maximum vibration would tend to be at the forward end where it is desired, with a tendency to fulcrum or pivot about the pad 38 thus largely localizing the vibratory action upon the fingers. This feattue is most effectively achieved with the connection to the fingers substantially in line with the pad 3i? and connecting devices 43, but it is to be noted that there is a much less loss in economy if the weight be inside of the bearing;

that is, in a direction away from the ends of the fingers, than if spaced in the opposite direction with a tendency to oscillate about the pad 38 as a pivot. It is also to be noted that the mounting of the weight between the bearings of the motor adds to the rigidity of the connection and durability of the device, and its close juxtaposition to the bearing l2 substantially does away with loss of the vibratory effect due to fiexure of the shaft.

In action with the device mounted as above set forth it gives the desired degree of vibration to the fingers leaving the outer fingers and thumb free for manipulation, nevertheless it may be readily and progressively increased or decreased in intensity by a turning of the button 25 by the free hand without interruption of the use of the hand upon which it is mounted.

It is also to be noted that the inclination of extension of the casing with respect to the main body thereof so shapes the device that it conforms in general to the contour of the hand and fingers when in use, and thus not only disposes it in a more compact and easily manipulated form but brings it into a position for more direct engagement with the surface upon which it is mounted.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which the several objects of this'invention are obtained and that the same is well suited to meet the most exacting requirements of hard practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention and as various changes might be made in that herein set forth,

'all without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that the foregoing description and the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

' 1. In a vibrator of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a. rigid casing, an electric motor within the said'casing', means driven from said motor adapted to vibrate said casing, said casing comprising a body portion within which the motor is positibned and an extension in the direction of the wrist of the hand upon which it is mounted, controlling means within said extension adapted to control the rate of rotation of said motor, said extension being downwardly inclined with respect to the body of the casing, yielding means adapted to extend 3 about the hand and connected to said casing, and means adapted to extend about the hand and connected to said extension.

2. In a vibrator of the general nature of that herein described, in combination, a rigid casing comprising a motor housing portion and a base part having a portion extending rearwardly and downwardly from said first-mentioned portion to project substantially over the back of the hand,

an electric motor within said housing portion having an armature, eccentric vigrating means. secured to said armature and rotatable therewith, said last-mentioned means being interposed between said armature and the end of said casing opposite said base portion, control means for said motor disposed within said extending portion, a yielding pad interposed between said base portion and the fingers substantially in the plane of rotation of said eccentric means, a second yield ing pad interposed between said extending portion and the back of the hand, and elasticmeans associated with said yielding pads adapted to yieldably hold said vibrator in position on the hand.

3. In a vibrator of the general nature of. that herein described, in combination, a rigid casing comprising a motor housing portion and a base portion, a part of said base portion extending. rearwardly and downwardly from said [motor housing portion, an electric motor having an armature journaled in said motor housing portion, an eccentric flywheel secured to said armature, said flywheel being interposed between said armature and the end of said housing opposite said extending part of said base portion, a rheostat positioned in the extending part of said base portion, means connected to the base portion and adapted to extend about the fingers substantially in the plane of rotation of said flywheel, and means connected to said extending part and adapted to extend about the hand, both of said last two mentioned means adapted to secure said vibrator to said hand.

4. In a vibrator of the general nature of that herein described, a substantially cylindrical rigid casing, driving means rotatably mounted within said casing including a shaft substantially coextensive with the axial length of said casing and journaled in the opposite ends thereof, a statically unbalanced member secured to said shaft and rotatable therewith whereby said member is driven by said driving means, said casing including abody portion within which said driving means is positioned and an extension in the di- 10 rection of the wrist of the hand upon which it is mounted, controlling means within said extension adapted to control the rate of rotation of said driving means whereby the period of vibration of said unbalanced member may be varied, yielding means adapted to extend about the hand and connected to said casing, and means adapted to extend about the hand and connected to said extension.

GLENN A. WILSON. 

